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Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Thousands of Cariocas celebrate victory at Copacabana beach It was on October 2 at 1.50 pm local time that Rio de Janeiro (the happiest city on earth according to Forbes magazine)was chosen to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.Thousands of Cariocas (citizens of Rio)celebrated in ecstasy as Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Commitee announced that their city had beaten Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago in the election.The fun had begun several hours before on the sandy beach in front of the Copacabana Palace, the city´s most famous hotel.Local singers such as Lulu Santos and Revelacao made the anxious crowd dance and sing in front of a giant screen and stage."Around the Rings" and "Games Bids", two well known websites that specialize in forecasting the winners of these events, got it wrong this time.Both had predicted that it would be a close finish between Rio and Chicago, but the Northamerican city was eliminated early on along with Tokyo.Not even the presence of Barack Obama and his wife Michelle in Copenhagen could help Chicago´s bid. However Obama was present at Copacabana in the form of a local lookalike ( see the photo). Brazil´s delegation included President Lula da Silva,Pele,Joao Havelange(former head of FIFA),Paulo Coelho and Sergio Cabral, governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro.Cabral and his successors will have a tough job in order to improve the city´s public transport system and eliminate the drug trafficking gangs.It is normal for scores of people to be killed in shootouts between police and the traffickers each week.Not only will Rio host the Olympics, in 2014 several matches of that years FIFA Football World Cup will be played there, including the final match at the famous Maracana stadium, that will have to be modernized. The announcement of Rio´s victory had an instant effect on the economy.The price of shares in the local stockmarket went up, especially those of airlines and construction companies. The price of the US dollar against the Brazilian Real was greatly devaluated and is at present at 1.77 reals for every dollar.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

After the historic match played in Rosario,Argentina on September 5,when none of Diego Maradona´s tricks could avoid a humiliating 3-1 defeat on home ground,
the Brazilian national team is now ready to face Chile on Wednesday night in Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia. The local press is concerned that after its brilliant performance and having qualified for South Africa 2010 the players will have relaxed and is demanding that coach Dunga´s team makes its best effort against Chile, the second placed team in the South American qualifying tournament. The visitors did not get a good result last Saturday since it could only draw 2-2 in Santiago against a weak Venezuelan team. However, not all omens are bleak for Chile since the Brazilian team will be without four of its top players: Kaka, Lucio, Ramires and Luis Fabiano (leading goalscorer in the tournament with nine goals). Luis Fabiano had become a nightmare for Chile since every time the striker had played he had scored, including twice in the first round match where Brazil beat Chile by 3-0. This match is also the twentieth anniversary of one of football´s most controversial episodes. In 1989, Brazil and Chile were competing for a place in Italy 1990, and the ticket had to be decided in a two way tie. The first match ended in a 1-1 draw in Santiago, and there had been plenty of violent prematch declarations by players and coaches of both teams.Even before the match began, a fight occured on the pitch between Chilean players and Romario, the star of the Brazilian team.Also in the first minutes of the match a Chilean defender made aviolent foul on Branco, one of Brazil´s best players, and nearly broke his leg.Instants later Romario tried to punch the Chilean player and ended up being sent off by the referee.

But worst was yet to come in the return match at Maracana Stadium on Sept 3, 1989.Brazil was winning 1-0 and seemed to be heading for a clear victory when a local fan threw a flare onto the pitch. The flare landed very near to Roberto Rojas,the Chilean goalkeeper, that immediately fell on the ground apparently in much pain.Rojas was bleeding from a wound over his eye, and the Chilean players took advantage of the situation and walked off the pitch.

In Santiago, angry fans threw stones at the Brazilian embassy in protest for what they considered an aggression. FIFA ordered a full investigation into the incident and finally discovered that Roberto Rojas had tried to deceive everybody by cutting himself with a shaving blade that was given to him by a member of the Chilean medical staff that went onto the pitch. The outcome of Roja´s behavior was that FIFA instantly gave the victory to Brazil and also banned Chile from the next World Cup that was to be played in USA in 1994.see video

Monday, August 24, 2009

Dear Foreign Investor: I have contacts with Brazilian government officials that can open doors for you in this marvellous country. They are looking for investors in the following areas: Gold, Diamond , Iron ore, manganese mining, sea ports, tourism , hotels & resort construction, and the energy industry. If you have any investors interested in these areas we can collaborate. Many thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.(mobile phone 55-21-7152 6662)email: rioaparts@yahoo.com, pelarco@yahoo.com

Suddenly the whole world seems to be investing in Brazil.Banks, investment funds, international hotel groups and resort developers have all been pouring money into Brazil and now shrewd individuals are following suit, keen to secure their investments before Brazil fully wakes up to its potential and prices rise.Friendly people, unbeatable climate, natural beauty and colourful culture have long been central to Brazil's unique offering. Couple this with its expanding infrastructure, political stability and booming economy and it's not difficult to understand why Brazil is suddenly the word on everyone's lips.An Emerging GiantThe Brazilian economy is booming. It is hotly tipped to achieve the prestigious Investment Grade as early as next year, and by 2050 Brazil is predicted to have grown into one of the world´s largest economies, alongside China, the US, India, Japan and Russia. (source: Goldman Sachs)PeopleThe Brazilians themselves are the country's greatest asset; they are happy, friendly and welcoming to any visitor! It’s hard to find warmer friendlier people. Brazil's mix of races makes it a culturally rich and unique country, one of the last places on earth where no-one is a foreigner, where one can change ones destiny without losing ones identity and where each and every Brazilian has a little of the entire world in his or her blood.With 50% of the population under 25 Brazil boasts one of the youngest populations of the emerging nations. The population in 2009 is at 191 million and expected to grow to 250 million by 2050 – by which time Brazil is widely expected to be one of the world's 4 biggest economies.ClimateThe Brazilian climate is unbeatable. The country basks in year-round sunshine and annual daily temperatures ranging from 22 degrees in the south to 27 degrees in the north east, and more during the peak season of December to February. Brazil is untouched by natural disasters such as Tsunamis and monsoons that have had such a damaging effect on many other emerging nations.GeographyAt 8.5 million square kilometers (roughly the size of the US) Brazil is the largest country in South America, covering around half the continent's land mass, and the 5th largest country in the world. Tropical rainforest covers much of the interior while pristine white beaches fringe over 7000 km of coastline. Except for a small number of islands, Brazil is a single and continuous land mass. The Equator passes through the northern region, near Macapá, and the Tropic of Capricorn cuts through the south of the country, near São Paulo. Brazil’s east to west extension (4,319.4 km) is almost equivalent to its north to south distance (4,394.7 km). The country borders French Guiana, Suriname, Guiana, Venezuela and Colombia, to the north; Uruguay and Argentina, to the south; and Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru, to the west. Ecuador and Chile are the only two countries on the South American continent that do not border Brazil. The Atlantic Ocean extends along the country’s entire eastern coast, providing 7,367 km of coastline.Natural ResourcesBrazil is home to more than one third of the world's fresh water reserves. It is fully self sufficient of petroleum-producing regions such as the Middle East and produces all its own fuel from sugar cane. More than 85% of Brazils energy comes from renewable sources, mostly hydro-electrical, isolating Brazil from international energy shocks.LanguageBrazil's official language is Portuguese; however, the accent and the intonation are very different from what one hears in Portugal and other former Portuguese colonies. Some people say that Brazilians speak “Brazilian”, just like Americans can say they speak “American”, and not English. And there are also many Brazilians who are descendants of immigrants and who speak German and Italian, especially in cities in southern Brazil.EconomicsBrazil’s economy is transforming. Gone are the days of instability and boom time has arrived. Financial leaders are praising today’s politicians with declarations that they’ve never had a government so committed to the capital market. Interest rates are at an all-time low, inflation is stable and with increased credit and more jobs, investor confidence is high and gaining momentum. Brazil has broad-based growth in many markets and is exporting widely. An increase in production, savings, credit and jobs has led to an attractive and profitable private sector and investment is flooding in. Confirmation of this can be seen in the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa). 2006 saw market capitalisation rise by 37% to 1.54 trillion reais ($723 billion) and 26 Initial Public Offerings. In the first 2 months of 2007, Bovespa raised more capital than Hong Kong. Brazil is the largest Latin American economy, producing 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its purchasing power is the 9th largest in the world. It is predicted to become one of the 4 most dominant economies by the year 2050.Brazil is set to become an investment-grade country as early as 2008 following an upgrade to its credit rating. Analysts representing Credit Suisse have attributed the decision, which has boosted Brazil’s financial markets, to “faster-than-expected improvement in the fundamentals of the Brazilian economy.”This news confirms that Brazil is now one of the most stable countries in South America - to date only Mexico and Chile have achieved investment grade, and that the confidence placed on President Lula da Silva is justified, as he looks for faster economic growth and opportunities to take advantage of the global economy.Useful Information about BrazilVisas and PassportsTourists and visitors from Mercosul countries do not need to present passports. They merely need to show their ID cards. Visitors from other countries must present a passport that is valid for the next six months. For further information on Visas and necessary documentation, access: www.mre.gov.br or www.braziltour.com.Electricity VoltageElectricity voltages vary from one state to another. Check the voltage before connecting any electrical appliance to an outlet.Car HireAll the well-know car hire firms have counters at the country’s main airports and in the main urban centers. Tourists may also book cars through their travel agencies.TaxisYou may opt to take an ordinary taxi easily found in the streets or through radio taxi services. It is recommended that accredited taxi services at the airports and at points nearby the main hotels be given priority. It is not usual in Brazil to tip a taxi driver although it is common to round off the amount and let the driver keep the change as a gratuity.TipsMost bars and restaurants include a service charge of 10% in the bill. It is usual to leave a little extra if the service has been satisfactory. When no service charge has been included then a tip of 10% to 15% is the general rule.CurrencyThe Brazilian currency unit is the Real ($R). Dollars and Travelers Checks can easily be changed in hotels, banks or travel agencies. Most establishments accept credit cards.CommunicationsTo make an international call, dial: 00 + operator code* + country code + area code (if there is one) + telephone number. For reverse charge international calls dial 0800 7032111.Time ZonesBecause of its continental dimensions Brazil has 4 time zones. The official time is Brasília time and it corresponds to 3 hours less than GMT. From September to February the clocks are put forward one hour in most Brazilian States.

Buying property in Brazil is refreshingly straightforward...Appointing a LawyerAs with any legal transaction, the first step in your land purchase is to appoint a reputable lawyer to act on your behalf. Your lawyer will carry out all necessary checks on the property or land in Brazil and fulfill the legal requirements of the purchase.We recommend you appoint a lawyer who is fluent in your language so that you fully understand all the legalities and proceedings.(Legal costs are generally between £500 and £1,000 depending on the value of the land purchased.)Your lawyer will:Check the current owners have the correct title to the propertyCheck for any charges and liabilities still owed on the propertyCheck your contract and advise you on the obligations for both partiesHelp you through the payment/funds transferEnsure the property is registered in your nameRegistrationThe property registry system in Brazil is well developed and safe and real estate registration in Brazil is carried out by private notary publics. All land and property is registered at one single registry, which records details of the entire commercial history and the physical identification of each property. It is obviously very important to ensure that any land or property you buy has a clear title and your lawyer will ensure this is the case.Brazilian CPFYou will need a Brazilian ID called a CPF. This is the UK equivalent of a national insurance number and can be obtained fairly simply by submitting a copy of your passport with a request for a CPF signature card. Once you receive the signature card you simply sign it and send it back with a small fee, and your CPF number is assigned to you at the Receita Federal. This can then be included in any purchase agreement. A formal copy of the CPF card will be posted out to you at an address in Brazil – usually your lawyer´s address for ease.CostsTransaction costs, including stamp duty, fees etc. are on average between 3% and 8% of the purchase price. Costs vary according to location, type of property and the State you buy in.Breakdown:A down-payment for your chosen propertyProperty transfer fees of approximately 4%-5% of the purchase price.Balance payment (or installments if financed)1% import tax on the transfer of funds from abroad.Money TransferFunds are sent via the official route of the Central Bank of Brazil. Also Western Union can be used but there is a limit.The bank records your funds entering the country and in order to release the funds, Purchase Brazil must present the contract to the bank. We strongly recommend you use only this official route, or you may have problems transferring funds out of Brazil when you sell your property in the future.There are generally no limitations to returning funds overseas provided they were originally registered with the Central Bank at the time of purchase.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

On August 23, at the Valencia race track in Spain, Rubens Barrichello came in first place to win the Telefonica Grand Prix of Europe. After a five year dry spell,this was Barrichello´s tenth personal victory of his career, and also a historic result as it was the 100th Formula 1 race won by a Brazilian driver.Barrichello drove his Brawn Mercedes racecar at an average speed of 308 kilometers per hour and took one hour and thirty five minutes to complete the race.Now Rubens is in second place of the 2009 driver´s champíonship with 52 points, while Jenson Button is in first place with 74 points.Rubens dedicated his victory to his countryman,Felipe Massa, that is recovering from an unfortunate incident that occurred weeks ago while training. This incident also involved Barrichello since it was a bolt that came loose from his car that hit Massa in the head and nearly killed him. It was Massa that also won at Valencia in the 2008championship, and sent Rubens a message via Twitter to congratulate Rubens.Ross Brawn also sent Rubens a message by radio only minutes after the Brazilian had crossed the finish line "Absolutely fantastic Rubens, it was just like in the old days, well done," said Brawn. With this win Rubens enters the history of Formula 1 alongside other great Brazilian Formula 1 drivers such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna (that was killed in a crash in 1994). After today the Brawn Mercedes team is in first place of the constructors championship with 126 points.

Monday, August 03, 2009

His full name is Joseph Walter Jackson, but to the world he is known simply as Joe Jackson, father of "The King of Pop", the late Michael Jackson.In recent years Joe as taken up residence in Las Vegas, Nevada,city where on the past July 26 he agreed to give an exclusive interview to Rede Record, one of Brazil´s main TV networks.The most relevant parts of the interview have been translated from the TV transmission.Accompanied by a man known as "Majestic", that acts as a media adviser and bodyguard, Joe Jackson met the crew from "Reporter Record" in a suite at "The Orleans Hotel".While preparing for the interview by putting on his own makeup and trying a few dance steps, Joe Jackson appeared to be in a good mood.

Reporter: Do you feel like dancing?

Joe Jackson: Yes, but I need some music, otherwise I can´t do anything (laughs).

R: So it was you that taught Michael to dance so well?

J.J: I taught him the first steps and then he added his own stuff.

R: We are grateful that you gave us this interview, now Brazilians will get to know you better.

J.J:I feel good because its for Brazil, a country that I like very much but have not been able to visit recently, the last time was in the 80s.

R:Congratulations on your recent birthday.What present did you get from your children?

J.J:What are they going to give me? Only my daughter Janet gave me a flower.

R: How can you describe yourself?

J.J:I´m a guy that always treated everybody nice and easy.

R: Were the beginnings with the Jackson´s difficult?

J.J:Yeh....they were nine kids and I had to feed them.I had to work at two jobs as a crane operator and a welder. Then I had the idea to make a lot of money by forming a pop group, so I started rehearsing with the kids at home.R:Did you ever beat your kids? Ever beat Michael?J.J: Oh no,never....but those parents that say they have never spanked their kids are wrong.Everybody spanks their kids.At this point Joe´s mood changes and he threatens to end the interview.

R:Michael once said you used to beat him.....

J.J: No ! I never heard him say that, when did he say that? I disciplined my kids. All the other kids that were their friends at the time, most are not living today.My kids never got into trouble.

At this point Majestic interrups the interview and talks to the reporter."Do you know how much money has been made after Michael´s death? Two billion dollars.Michael was always giving money to charity...and he was not gay. Never, no way!" said Majestic.

R: How many plastic surgeries did Michael have?J.J: He had about three..I´m sure he did his nose and his chin.There is nothing wrong wih plastic surgery.He wanted to change his nose and he did it.R:Was Michael proud to be a black man?

J.J:We already discussed that...he had vitiligo.He was proud to be Michael Jackson.R: Who or what killed Michael Jackson?

J.J:You said him.Remember that I had a doctor for him.All I know is that this is being investigated.But why didn´t the doctor wake him up?I mean I had this kind of problem after a surgery and the doctor was always there to take care of me.Why was Dr.Murray missing for three days? I say it was foul play until I know exactly the whole story.I´m going to find out what happened to my son.

R:What are the biggest lies told about Joe Jackson ?J.J:The press hates me, all they want to do is cash a big check.I don´t care about them, the fans know I´m a great guy.R:What was your reaction to the sex abuse accusations?J.J:I knew he didn´t do that, he wasn´t raised to do that.R: Were you angry when you heard that?J.J:When you are a parent and you love your kids it bothers you.R:When was the last time you talked to Michael?J.J:Three weeks before he died.R:Why were you not part of his will?

J.J:I´m not worried about that. Ok, that´s it,I´m through, I gave you more than an hour, more than was agreed.(Joe begins to get up from his chair)R: Just a few more questions please.

R: How will Joe Jackson be remembered?J.J:Where am I going? I´m still here am I not ? (laughs)

R: What will Michael Jackson´s legacy be?J.J: You will have to ask Michael that when you get to heaven. Thank you, that´s all I have to say.

Friday, July 31, 2009

DEAR CYBERFRIENDS: I AM DOING SOME FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A CALIFORNIA BASED COMPANY. THE CAMERA THAT I HAVE IS A NIKON COOLPIX S1. ITS A GOOD DIGITAL CAMERA, BUT I FEEL I NEED A MORE PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT WITH POWERFUL ZOOM LENS. I NEED TO TAKE PHOTOS OF MANY MORE PLACES/CITIES IN BRAZIL AND SOUTH AMERICA. I USE MOST OF MY MONEY FOR TRAVEL AND HOTEL EXPENSES. IF YOU CAN HELP ME AND SEND THE CAMERA OR VIDEO CAMERA TO THE FOLLOWING ADRESS I WILL BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL AND YOU WILL BE COMPENSATED IN FUTURE WHEN I BEGIN TO GET PAID THE COPYRIGHT PAYMENT. THIS IS THE ADDRESS:M.D.MACKINNONRUA CARLOS SAMPAIO 351, SL 18, BAIRRO FATIMA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL.CEP 20231-084pelarco@yahoo.com

Friday, January 09, 2009

During October of 2008, Marcelo Mackinnon, a Santiago based travel writer, took hundreds of digital photographs of the most important areas and landmarks of Santiago, the Chilean capital. The photographs and descriptive script was converted into an audiovisual podcast that is now being distributed in DVD, Ipod, MP3 and cell phone format by Visual Travel Tours of Santa Barbara, California, USA. (www.visualtraveltours.com ). The main inspiration for Mackinnon´s work was to promote a city that is becoming one of South America’s most visited tourist destinations.The 30 minute podcast will guide visitors, be they cruise ship passengers, business travelers or backpackers in a confortable walking tour around Santiago’s central business district, known locally as “El Centro”. Included in the podacast are spectacular high altitude views of the city from the top of Santa Lucia and San Cristobal hills, both of which are near to 3000 feet above sea level.The editor at Visual Travel Tours is Gordon Burgett, a travel writer that has published more than 1,700 articles and offered over 2,000 professional presentations during his career. During that time he has appeared extensively on radio and TV, as a guest author and a publishing specialist. Burgett is a long-standing member of the National Speakers Association, the American Society of Authors and Journalists, and the Publishers Marketing Association; has produced 26 audio cassette series and singles, and has written 27 books, including The Travel Writer’s Guide, Sell and Resell Your Magazine Articles, Publishing to Niche Markets and, Niche Marketing for Writers, Speakers, and Entrepreneurs.